They sell remote mounted electric water pumps with more flow than the block mounted style. This gives more room for electric fan installations and alternate plumbing arrangments. Also, a smaller style alternator could then be used with easier bracket fabrication.
Water flow volume is critical in street driven applications because the water can boil around the exhaust valve almost instantly and high engine loads. These steam pockets can cause all sorts of localized problems in the combustion chamber and valve seat temperatures.
Electric water pumps have a constant flow, engine driven water pumps increase flow and pressure differential across the cylinder head interface with increased engine rpm.
For drag racing, the low volume is probably not an issue, especially with the slants heavy duty head deck...for higher rpm street apps or boost/nitrous apps, or people who road race or auto cross, I am not sure that an electric water pump (except perhaps the high dollar hi flow rated stuff) will provide long term reliable thermal cooling in the most important areas around the exhaust valve.
I have been studying cooling systems and thermodynamics for a long time looking to convert all my cars at some point to computer driven and regulated electric water flow.
This web site has really good basic info on cooling system theory and thermodynamics of cooling engines.
http://www.stewartcomponents.com/tech_t ... Tips_6.htm
They also sell one of the highest flowing (and costing) electric pumps on the market.
Oops...late...got to go to the Panthers game
Gearhead
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